The grapes for the flagship 2007 L’Ermita come from a steep, 70-year-old vineyard that is 100% Garnacha with the wine aged for 12-15 months in 100% new French oak. Dark ruby-colored, it gives up an aromatic array of pain grille, pencil lead, truffle, incense, lavender, black cherry, and blackberry. Velvety-textured, elegant, and intensely flavored, it has enough structure to merit 5-6 years of additional cellaring. This lengthy, complex offering will be at its best from 2015 to 2027. Alvaro Palacios established his namesake winery in 1989. The flagship L’Ermita made its debut in 1993. Finca Dofi and L’Ermita vineyards are farmed biodynamically. All of the wines are bottled without filtration. Importer: Manny Berk, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484

This red shows lovely freshness, bursting with cherry, floral, vanilla and spice flavors. Not muscular, but juicy and generous, focused and long, more sweet than savory.—Non-blind L'Ermita vertical (May 2013). Drink now through 2020. 200 cases made.??–TM??Region: Spain / Priorat Select to Add

Bright ruby. Intense, mineral-driven aromas of spicy red berries, candied cherry, blood orange and potpourri, plus a sexy Asian spice quality. Tangy and sharply focused, with striking purity and energy. Sweet raspberry and cherry flavors are framed by silky tannins that are quickly absorbed by the fruit. Manages to be deep as well as vivacious, showing strong finishing minerality and a lingering note of star anise. This plays Lafite to the Dofi's Latour.